1884 BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES
BARNHILL TWP
bh26
HARLAN, MRS. MARIA, Barnhill.
was born September 18. 1828. on the farm where she now resides, the
land having been pre-empted by her father, Daniel Kenshalo, in 1816. He was
born June 2, 1780, in Harrison County, Va. He died, in 1872, in Mill
Shoals, White Co.. Ill. In early life, he was educated as a lawyer, but
never followed his profession. While living in Kentucky, he shipped
goods and also negroes to New Orleans, to which place he made thirteen
trips .by flat-boat, and walking back, carrying at one time $17,000,
tied up in a handerchief, back to his employers. In 1819, he came to
Wayne County, Ill., where he pre-empted and deeded the land on which
our subject now resides.
Daniel Kenshalo was a
soldier in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of the Thames,
where Tecumseh fell, securing the great chief's tomahawk, which he
brought home as a trophy. His last days were spent in quiet country
life. Our subject's grandfather, Peter
Kenshalo, was a native of Ireland, and came here during the
Revolutionary war. His wife was Margaret
Walls, a native of Germany.
The mother of our subject was Anne
Van Shoik, born 1784, in Amsterdam, Holland; she died in 1842,
in this county. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom our
subject is probably the only one now living. Her father. David Van Shoik, also a native of
Holland, was a wagon-maker by occupation. Her mother was Pyrthina Van
Shoik. Mrs. Harlan's brother, Peter
Kenshalo, was a First Lieutenant in the Black Hawk war: she
afterward drew his pension.
She was married twice; her first husband, Rufus Sexton, died in White County,
Ill.
Her second husband, Nathaniel
Harlan, was a native of Kentucky; be died February 6, 1872.
Mrs. Harlan is the mother of ten children, of whom six are now
living—Augusta. wife of R H. Puckett;
India B., wife of John Faulkner;
Metta V., born April 5, 1862: Charles W.. born March 5, 1867; Marshal M.. born November 5, 1868;
and Sallie. born February 27.
18 70.
Mrs. Harlan has managed her farm of 210 acres, with marked success
since the death of her husband, and may be considered as one of the
best farmers in Wayne County.- She made a fine farm out of a waste
place, and at present has mortgages on other farms and money at
interest. Religiously, she is connected with the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Copyright ©
Dec 1999. D. Williams
All rights reserved.
Last rev. by Sandy
Bauer